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Having immense historical fame and importance, Nuristan is a known eastern province of Afghanistan. Throughout the history, Nuristan has been known by different names.
Geographically, the province is a mountainous region. During different times, it is known as Kafirstan and Bloristan. However, Bloristan was a name largely used for Kunar, Chitral and Kapisa regions.
During the reign of Ameer Abd-ur- Rahman Khan back in 1896, the province was reintegrated with Afghanistan after a military offensive in that part of the region. As mentioned earlier that the province was known Kafirstan and Bloristan but after its amalgamation into Islamic territory, the province was renamed as Nuristan.
Geographically, the province is situated amongst high but densely forested mountains and it has less plain areas. With wonderful bridges, few rivers flow among the mountains that add to the beauty of the province.
It has an area of 9,267 square kilometers with a population of 400,000 individuals. Parun is the capital of Nuristan.
Nuristanis are residents of province who speak Nuristani language, however, other ethnicity such as 15% Pashai, 1% Pashto and Tajik speaking live in the province.Surrounding:
To the north of Nuristan is situated Badakshan province, Chitral and areas of Kashmir, Pakistan, to its east while Kunar, Panjhsir, Kapisa and Laghman provinces are located to its south.Climate:
The province has humid weather and it receives 600 to 800 milliliters rain annually. Some parts of Nuristan are extremely cold with temperature in those areas reaches to minus degree Celsius.
Being a mountainous and densely forested region, the province is vulnerable to heavy snow fall during winter season with its roads remains closed leaving the province cut off from res parts of the country for months.
However, the temperature goes down to minimum level in winter; however, it is warm and sometimes hot in summer.Administrative Units:

The province is divided into eight administrative unites with its capital is known as Parun while Wama, Kamdish, Bargi Matal, Du Ab, Nurgram, Want Waygal and Mandol are its known districts.Education:
Currently, Nuristan has 211 schools out of these 117 are primary, 92 intermediate and two are high schools.
Similarly, there are 20 Madrassas, two agricultural institutions; three pedagogical institutions with the total number of students in the province reaches to 72,843 out of which 44,220 are boys and 32,623 are girls’ students.
The total number of teachers in the province is 1,270 with 120 of them are female and the rest are male. It merits mention that out of the total strength of teachers, 30 male and 4 female are declared as professional teachers.
As many as 190 teachers impart Islamic education with 12 among them are female teachers.
Deteriorated security caused closure of 35 schools in Nuristan while only 56 schools have proper buildings.Agriculture:
The province has less land for agricultural purposes because most of its land is occupied by forests, maple, deodar, walnut and other dry fruit trees. In the western parts of Nuristan toward Nuagram district, people are mainly associated with the livestock and orchards profession.
Industry:
Handcraft industry still flourishes in the province with women folk weaves traditional clothes and using animal herds for making special clothes and other dresses. Special kind of capes and coats being made in Nuristan are widely known, which is the sole source of income of the residents.
The province doesn’t have industrial related activities because concerned authorities miserably failed to take steps for establishment of factories in the province.
Also, the province is rich in natural resources and its residents explore mines illegally with outdated and nonprofessional way.Celebrities:
Abdul Wakil Khan, Gul Meer Khan, Farmoon Khan, Maulvi Afzal, Dawlat Inqilabi, Abdullah Khan Nuristan, Maulvi Ghulam Rabani, Abdul Qadeer Nuristani, Shaikh Fazal Ahmad Muslim, Samiullah, Sulaiman Mujadidi, Sultan Nuristani, Genral Qais and others are among the famous celebrities of the province.Culture:
The culture of Nuristanis is deeply different from the culture of rest of the provinces.
Most of the people associate with the profession of livestock. Their houses are made of woods with two windows in the two sides of wall. Mostly, they use to sleep on stones and eat on the table. People use to weave their wearing from animals herds. Men wear caps and during wedding ceremony the father of groom give animals to the father of bride as marriage money.
During marriage ceremony, friends of bride and groom bring animals as a gift. They use to slaughter the animal, which is cut into 24 pieces and then food serve among guests.
Tribal elder and religious leaders have their main share in the wedding food and the main dish being served on marriage day is meat.
People of Nuristan don’t observe Islamic principle of hiding their faces (Hijab). They use to enter each other houses without prior permission and their female never plunge into formalities from strange persons.
The province is backward as far as the cultural activities are concerned; however, the only state-run radio airs programs from Nuagram district from the capital Parun.
People enjoy traditional music in Nuristan province. Their musical instruments are simple, and they use them during wedding ceremonies. The known musical instruments include traditional flute and mandolin.Sport:
Traditional sports are popular in Nuristan province but there are separate games for winter and summer seasons. Cricket becomes a widely popular game in the recent past in the province with its provincial cricket team is getting success in national tournaments.